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His eyes narrow into slits, but not because he’s angry at what I asked. It’s more like he’s trying to figure out how to answer. There’s a war going on in his head, and the longer I spend time with him, the more I want to know his story.
“I don’t feel anything anymore, apart from my blood. I don’t make plans. I helped you because it was the right thing to do, as you were never meant to be a part of our fight.”
“How long will you help me for? There’s going to come a day where I have to leave and go home.”
“Why did you first come here?”
“To get away from my life.”
“Then why are you in such a rush to go home?” he retorts. “What’s wating for you there?”
Not much, but they’re still my parents. As much as my father pecks at me about college and heading into a career, he’s still my dad. He loves me, and only wants what’s best for me.
“It’s okay not knowing what you want to do. It’s what life is, figuring it out as you go.”
“Is that how you live?”
Arching his brow, he says, “Like I said, planning is overrated.”
Before I can open my mouth to ask him again for a solid answer as to why he’s helping me, a commotion at the door gets his attention.
Glancing over, I see Ethan being shoved through the door, one of the brothers training a gun at his head.
Leo jumps up from the couch, and I gently slide out and replace my lap with a cushion under Rayna’s head as not to disturb her. I was taken aback when Leo brought her over, and she climbed onto my lap. She seems like a clingy child, which I’m guessing has something to do with her mom.
An old guy drags a chair from a table into the middle of the bar, and Ethan is shoved onto it and quickly tied to it.
The bruising around his eye has darkened, and I look around for his parents. They’re nowhere to be seen, and my heart begins to race, wondering what’s going on now. Staying close to Leo, I try to listen in to everyone talking, but none of it makes sense.
“Why’s he here?” Leo demands, and the men in the bar go quiet.
It’s JJ who steps forward. “Shit went south. You need to get to the hospital.”
“Why?” Leo drags out slowly, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Your dad was shot. It didn’t look good.”
Dropping his arms to his sides, he clenches his fists.
“Who shot him?” His demand is vehement enough to have his friend back away.
“Bert.”
In the blink of an eye, Leo grabs the closest table and flips it over, sending beer bottles crashing to the floor. The chairs to his left are then picked up and thrown across the bar, forcing guys to quickly move out of the way.
“Brother, you can’t do this now. You need to leave.”
I agree with JJ. No one seems to be making a move to calm him, and before I realise what I’m doing, I cross the small space between us and place my hand on his upper arm.
He stills instantly, his back heaving with his rapid breathing.
“You should go. I can watch Rayna,” I say quietly, aware everyone is watching.
Turning, he looks down at me, as there’s quite a difference in height between us. I burn to cup his cheek, wanting to soothe his frustrations, but one, I can’t on account of the bandages. And two, it would imply we’re something more than the nothing we are.
His voice is strained when he orders, “You don’t leave this bar, you hear me?”
“I won’t, I promise.”
